Men’s Basketball Takes On The Pioneers of Denver – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2000
Game Notes in .PDF format
Opponent: Denver
Site: Value City Arena (19,100)
Game Time: 8 p.m. (EST)
TV: ESPN Plus
Local TV: WBNS-TV 10
TV Talent: Tom Hamilton (P-by-P)
Bill Hosket (Color)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (63 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P)
Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (3-2)
G 3-Sean Connolly, 6-4, So.
G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
Denver Pioneers
Probable Starters (2-3)
G 13-Matt Paul, 6-2, Sr.
G 23-Arthur Ireland, 6-2, Sr.
C 40-Steve Simmons, 6-9, Jr.
F 24-Kevin Overton, 6-7 Sr.
F 33-Wahhab Carter, 6-6, Jr.
O’Brien close to win No. 300
Jim O’Brien is closing on career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach. O’Brien is 296-257 (.535) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 61-40 (.604), including a record of 53-18 (.746) over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11 seasons at his alma mater, Boston College. His teams compiled a record of 168-166 record with six postseason appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Tournement in his last four years. O’Brien started his career at St. Bonaventure, where in four seasons, his teams posted a record of 67-51 (.568).
Johnson leads Big Ten
Ohio State senior Ken Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) is the Big Ten’s top shot blocker with an average of 3.8 rejections a game. Buckeye junior Boban Savovic (East Side N.J./Montenegro, Yugoslavia) is second in the assist/turnover ratio with 21 assists and just six turnovers on the season for a +3.50 ratio. Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is fifth in scoring with 17.4 points a game. He is fourth in free throw shooting (19-20, .950) and seventh in assists (4.40 apg.).
Robinson out 2-4 weeks
Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, will be out 2-4 weeks recovering from injuries sustained as a passenger in a traffic accident Sunday, Dec. 3. Robinson suffered several lacerations to his face and right hand. He is expected to recover fully. Robinson has played in five games to date for the Buckeyes. He is averaging 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.4 minutes a game.
Buckeye defense rated among best in the Big Ten
Ohio State rates No. 3 among Big Ten teams in scoring defense allowing just 59.8 points a game. Opponents are connecting on just 35.6 percent of their shots, which ranks Ohio State No. 2 in field goal percentage defense. Foes are hitting only 29.5 percent of their 3-point attempts, which has OSU again No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Ohio State offense is No. 2 in scoring margin, with a 15.4 scoring advantage over opponents. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in free throw percentage (86-112, .768), turnover margin (+2.40) and assist/turnover ratio (+1.27).
Buckeyes shoot down Colonels
Boban Savovic and Brian Brown scored 14 points apiece and each powered a 41-8 first-half surge as Ohio State beat Eastern Kentucky 90-44. Ohio State opened a nine-game homestand with the win. Velimir Radinovic added 13 points for Ohio State, hitting 9-of-11 free throws. Zach Williams also had 13 points and Ken Johnson had 11 points. Phillip Taylor was the only player in double figures with 10 points for Eastern Kentucky, which lost 72-40 at Ohio State a year ago. Ohio State’s biggest margin was the final score. The Buckeyes dominated the boards 54-32 and shot 46 percent from the field to the Colonels’ 27 percent.
Noting the win over Eastern Kentucky
Ohio State is 31-3 in three seasons at Value City Arena. TheBuckeyes are 3-0 vs. Eastern Kentucky and 8-0 vs. the Ohio ValleyConference. Sophomore guard Sean Connolly made his first start in aBuckeyes’ uniform vs. the Colonels. Connolly, who started all 30games for Providence as a freshman, has seen action in every gamefor the Buckeyes so far this season. The Ohio State defense playeda stingy first half forcing Eastern Kentucky into 13 turnovers andholding the Colonels to 6-of-29 from the floor for a .207 shootingpercentage. Ohio State took a 51-16 lead into the locker room athalftime. The 25-point lead was the second largest halftime marginfor the Buckeyes in Value City Arena history. The only largermargin at the break was when the Buckeyes held a 58-25 lead vs.Oakland (11/13/98), the first game ever played at Value City Arena.Junior guard Boban Savovic set a career high with his four 3-pointfield goals in the game. Junior guard Brian Brown tied a careerhigh with seven assists. The only other time Brown recorded sevenassists was in his first game as a Buckeye vs. Oakland (11/13/98).Junior guard Brian Brown also tied his career high in rebounds witheight vs. the Colonels. The last time Brown recorded eight reboundsin a game was vs. Wisconsin (2/2/00). Ken Johnson increased his OSUcareer blocked shots lead. Johnson blocked three Eastern Kentuckyshots giving him 19 blocks on the season and 338 for his career.With his 14 points vs. the Colonels, junior guard Brian Brown hasscored double figures in 20 games during his career, including allfive games this season. With his seven rebounds vs. EKU, juniorguard Boban Savovic tied a career high. Savovic previously pulleddown seven rebounds vs. Michigan (1/16/99). Freshman center VelimirRadinovic finished the game with a career-high 13 points. Walkonjunior Kel Frazier scored a career high four points and walkonsophomore Ryan Heflin dished out a career high 2 assists.
Fletcher in fourth year at Denver
Head coach Marty Fletcher enters his fourth season at the helm of the Denver basketball program, his 16th season overall. As of Nov. 30, Fletcher’s record stands at 237-282 (.457) overall and 24-61 (.282) in his tenure at Denver. Fletcher enters the season with a chance to become the Sun Belt Conference’s second winningest coach in terms of conference victories, he currently is in sole possession of third place on that list with 61 behind Ronnie Arrow (South Alabama–69) and Gene Bartow (UAB–111).
Denver down one in series vs. OSU
The Buckeyes own a 2-1 record over Denver dating back to the first meeting in the series Dec. 12, 1948 in Columbus. Ohio State won that game 66-57. The Pioneers returned Dec. 11, 1951 and won 67-58. OSU hosted Denver again Dec. 29, 1953 and won 74-56.
Buckeyes up 9-5 over Sun Belt
Ohio State owns a 9-5 record over teams representing the Sun Belt Conference. The Buckeyes are 2-1 vs. Denver, 1-0 vs. Florida International, 1-1 vs. Louisiana Tech, 2-1 over South Alabama, 1-1 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette and 2-1 over Western Kentucky. Ohio State has never faced Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State or New Orleans. The Buckeyes lost their last meeting against a Sun Belt Conference member Dec. 17, 1997 when OSU traveled to Louisiana-Lafayette (then Southwestern Louisiana) and fell 68-64. Denver coach Mary Fletcher is a former Louisiana Lafayette head coach (1987-1997).
Denver downs Brown
Sophomore guard B.J. Pratt came off the bench to lead all scorers with a season-high 27 points and senior center Steve Simmons pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds as the Pioneers defeated Brown, 83-65, in non-conference action at home Dec. 3.
Pratt was 10-of-17 from the field, 5-of-8 from long distance and nailed both of his free throws to post his season high. He scored 26 in Denver’s season-opening loss vs. Oregon. Simmons had 11 rebounds on the defensive end and also added seven points and a game-high two blocks.
The Pioneers shot 47.6 percent from the field – their best at home this season – and made half of their 3-pointers for the second time this year. They also protected the ball well, committing a season-low 12 turnovers on the afternoon.
Four Pioneers average double figures
Sophomore B.J. Pratt is the leading scorer for the Pioneers with 15.8 points a contest. Senior Arthur Ireland is next at 14.0 ppg., followed by junior Wahhab Carter (11.3 ppg.) and senior Kevin Overton (10.8 ppg.). Junior Steve Simmons leads in rebounding at 9.3 rpg.
Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
Ken Johnson has 19 blocks on the season for a career total of 338, which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections. Johnson passed Herb Williams (1978-81) at the Great Alaska Shootout. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg. (58/30 gms.) as a freshman, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a sophomore and 5.37 bpg. (161/30 gms.) in 1999-00. He has an average of 3.8 blocks a game this season.
Johnson closing on 100 career starts
Ken Johnson has started 97 career games as a Buckeye since the 1997-98 season. With three more starts, he will become one of only eight Buckeyes to reach 100 or more career starts. Currently No. 8 all-time, Johnson will next overtake Troy Taylor (1982-85) at No. 7 with 101 starts.
Leading the Buckeyes
Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 17.4 points per game. He also has been deadly accurate from the foul line, hitting 19-of-20 attempts for a shooting percentage of 95 percent. He leads the Buckeyes from 3-point range (10-23, .435) and has played a team best 33.0 minutes per game. Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.4 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 54 percent of his shots (20-37). Brown is the leader in assists with 22.
Buckeyes scoring well from foul line
Ohio State has connected on 77 percent of its foul shots after five games (86-112). Starters Brian Brown, Ken Johnson, Boban Savovic and Zach Williams are a combined 49-59 (.831).
OSU opponents fare well in polls
Six 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another seven foes are receiving votes for Top 25 consideration. Michigan State (2/2), Kansas (3/4), Illinois (9/7), Syracuse (20/19, Wisconsin (17/20), St. John’s (24/24) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Alabama (AP No. 23), Purdue, Iowa, Penn State and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls..
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 4th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 338 blocks in his career after swatting three against Eastern Kentucky. Johnson is fourth in Big Ten history in career blocks. Joe Barry Carroll of Purdue (1977-80) is the next target for Johnson at No. 3 with 349 career blocks.
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 4. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 338 5. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 161 2. Calvin Booth, PSU 1997-98 140 3. Jim Pitts, NU 1965-66 123 4. Acie Earl, Iowa 1991-92 121 5. Acie Earl, Iowa 1990-91 106 6. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-78 105 7. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101 8. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100 9. Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99 10.Roy Tarpley, MICH 1985-86 97 Brad Sellers, OSU 1985-86 97
Johnson led nation in blocks, average fifth in NCAA
Ohio State center Ken Johnson led the Big Ten and the nation in blocks in 1999-00. Johnson sent back 5.37 shots per game with 161 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history. His total of 161 is the seventh most in a single season in NCAA history.
NCAA Single Season Blocks Avg. 1. #Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1997 6.43 2. #Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1996 6.36 3. #David Robinson, Navy 1986 5.91 4. Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1996 5.69 5. #Ken Johnson, OSU 2000 5.37 # Led nation in blocks.
Big Ten coaches, media select Johnson preseason First Team All-Big Ten
The Big Ten men’s basketball coaches and league media chose Ken Johnson (Sr., Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) as a preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection. The announcement was made Oct. 30 at the annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball media day. Johnson joins Cory Bradford (Illinois), Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Kirk Haston (Indiana) and LaVell Blanchard (Michigan) on the squad selected by the coaches. The media selected the same squad with the exception of Haston. Joe Crispin of Penn State filled that spot. Johnson, who averaged nearly eight points, over six rebounds and 5.4 blocks a game last year as a junior, is the only senior on Ohio State’s squad this season.
A change in lineup
Ohio State used its second starting lineup of the season with sophomore Sean Connolly starting in place of sophomore Brent Darby against Eastern Kentucky. Darby has a slight knee sprain but did play vs. the Colonels. According to STATS Inc., Ohio State was among just six schools to use just one or two different starting lineups in 1999-00. Hawaii used the same starters all season. Ohio State, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Vermont and Wofford used just two lineups in 1999-00.
2-year home record rates high at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 31-3 (.912) record over three seasons in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA (1998-99) and notched a 15-2 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back seasons in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 combined home games, the OSU record from 1999-00 of 29-3 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The 1962-63 teams posted a 25-0 record during a span of 50 home games in which the Buckeyes were undefeated from 1960-64.
Ohio State home record in back-to-back seasons Seasons 2-yr. home Rec. Win Pct. 1962-63 25-0 1.000 1991-92 30-1 .968 1990-91 27-2 .931 1999-00 29-3 .906 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 255
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 255 games. Boban Savovic extended the streak early in the first half against Eastern Kentucky (12/2/00). The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from 3-point range was Feb. 2, 1992 when the Buckeyes went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU win over Michigan. Buckeye opponents have a streak of 247-consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made. Michigan went 0-10 from long range March 3, 1992 in an OSU 75-66 victory, marking the last time an opponent was held without a 3-pointer.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
The Buckeyes open the Big Ten season Jan. 3, 2001 at home against Northwestern. The Buckeyes have more victories over the Wildcats (97) than any other league school. Ohio State has 78 wins each over Michigan and Wisconsin. Illinois has the most wins over the Buckeyes with 94. This will be the 89th season of Big Ten play for Ohio State in men’s basketball.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 56-94
Indiana 66-92
Iowa 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-51
Minnesota 69-50
Northwestern 97-44
Penn State 11-11
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 625-60
Johnson on watch list for Naismith Award
Ken Johnson, a senior on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, is among 30 preseason candidates for the 2000-01 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 33rd year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Cory Bradford (Illinois) and Mike Kelley (Wisconsin) also represent the Big Ten on the list.
Wooden Award a possibility for Johnson
Johnson is a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which began its Silver Anniversary celebration with the announcement of the Top 50 Preseason Candidates for the 2000-01 All-American Team in late August. Founded in 1976, The John R. Wooden Award is the nation’s pre-eminent trophy given annually to the most outstanding collegiate basketball player in the United States.
Johnson helps Olympic team prepare for Gold in Sydney
Ken Johnson was selected as one of 12 collegiate players who gathered to practice against the 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team last summer in Maui, Hawaii. Johnson was the only true center on the 2000 USA Basketball Men’s Select team and its tallest player at 6-feet 11-inches. The Select team scrimmaged the Olympic team each day during the week-long camp. The camp ended with a nationally-televised (NBC) contest Sept. 2 at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center.
Three student-athletes added for 2001-02 season
Jim O’Brien signed one of the best recruiting classes of his coaching tenure Nov. 8, the first day of the fall men’s basketball signing period.
Matt Sylvester (Loveland, Ohio/Moeller), Terence Dials (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) all signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play for Ohio State.
Sylvester, a 6-foot-7-inch, 200-pound wing forward, is considered to be among the top two players in Ohio. He is ranked by Prep Spotlight Magazine as one of the Top 60 players in the country. Sylvester played for the powerful Cincinnati AAU program. As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. As a sophomore, Sylvester helped guide Carl Kremer’s Moeller squad to a Division I State Championship.
Dials, the second recruit from Ohio to sign with the Buckeyes, is a 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound power forward/center. He gives the Buckeyes an athletic big man. As a junior, Dials averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.
Fuss-Cheatham (6-1, 190) is the No. 1-ranked point guard in the Midwest by Vince Baldwin of Midwesthoops.com and the No. 6 nationally-ranked point guard. He also is considered a Top 30 all-around player in the high school class of 2001. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.1 rebounds as a junior. He shot 59 percent from the field (279-476) and 77 percent (123-160) from the free-throw line. He has been Blackhawk’s starting point guard since his freshman season. The Cougars are 85-11 during that time. Over the last two seasons, Blackhawk is 62-4 with two conference championships and a state title.
